Ft Lauderdale Air Show 2023

Grant,
Are you planning to watch it from water or land? If from water, where are you anchoring?

 

I was thinking that Sunrise lake is the place. I know it very well and can only imagine how packed it'll get. This place is tiny for the amount of boats for such event. If you say it's not terrible and I don't have to run around fendering yahoos off bumping into my boat, I'll be interested. It would be a good opportunity for CSR locals to get together.

Have you ever watched the show from Lake Sylvia? I wonder if there's a decent view or do the hotels create big obstruction?

P.S. my preference would be to stay inland, as my crew would not be comfortable getting too close to the "stage".

 

I'll be out. This is my wife's favorite boat day of the year. If calm enough, definitely go ocean... so much better. I am North so the only downside is coming back in the inlet if you want to use LHP. Low clearance there so you get up in a major traffic jam. Now I go straight to Boca. The ICW as well is a major cluster fk when the show ends, so be prepared and make sure you are 100% for the run back. Its a stressful day for captains but worth it.
Last year, ocean was too rough (for us) and we were late to the party so Sunrise lake was jam packed. I went over closer to the bridge and tossed and stern anchor about as as close as I could to one of the big yachts docked at CRYC. Tucked in enough as not be in the channel so law enforcement left us alone. Within an hour, a bunch more did the same. We sat up on the bow and had a good view.
Lets all touch base beforehand when the weather/sea forecast is up and game plan. We are definitely over due for that CSR raft up!

 

Where is Sunrise Lake?
Is this it?:

 

That's the spot.

 

Anyone else interested to join the raft?

 

I still plan on coming Fri eve. I'm checking with my friends and if all goes well, might have another boat or two joining. Will keep you posted.

 

I plan on going, but not until Sat morning. You two save me a spot!

 

Hey Grant,

I have a friend with 450DB "Serenity" joining the raft. They'll be heading to FTL much earlier on Friday. I plan on arriving much later (after work day). We'll do our best but realistically I'd say between 9 and 10pm. If you plan on getting there earlier, it would make sense for you two to start building the raft and I'll join shortly after.

When we had a preliminary discussions with my friend, considering that we'll have more than one anchor out, I suggested to head to the back of the anchorage (see attached pic) and secure the raft with bow and stern anchors. This will prevent us from swinging (crossing the bow anchors) and have minimal interference with the rest of the boats.



We can make the decision on deploying the stern hooks later. If the forecast holds true, we should have more of consistent SSE wind, which should hold us in steady direction.

Your thoughts?

Question on communication, do you prefer any VHF channel? I usually stay on 69 (for group communication) and if it gets too crowded, I switch to 72.

I have your cell and if you don't mind I can give it to my friend to make it easier on detailed communication upon their arrival.

I guess it helps to have a quick list of participants. At this time it seems as we have the following:

1. 480DA "H2O Therapy": Grant and crew TBD
2. 420DB "Inspiration": Alex and Jelena
3. 450DB "Serenity": Yury and Lucy
4. 370 Cruiser "Name TBD": Vince and crew TBD

Did I miss anyone?

 

I haven't been in the anchorage lately, so I can't comment on the sailboats occupying it.

I was thinking about which way we want to keep the stern. Keeping it facing East would provide convenience of the view. But this means we'd be relying mostly on the stern anchors. I don't know if we'll have enough holding power. Serenity doesn't carry stern anchor. I'm not sure if Vince has one. If it comes down to only two stern anchors, which are half the size of the bow anchors, that raises a concern.

 

Well stern to the ocean would be nicer. I do have a stern anchor, but its small. It wouldn't hold all of us but since I may be the last one in I could try to drop it back further as I pull up to you all, and add enough support. I won't need the main if you all are set. Incoming tide that afternoon, but no idea how much current you actually see in that lake.
Grab whatever looks best when you get there and we'll make it work.
I was on the fence about heading down after work Friday, but the Panthers pulled another one off in Boston last night so I'll be at the game. Will be leaving Boca around 830-9 on Sat. Outside run looks questionable so not sure how long it will take me to get down there.

 

Also, here is the run down they sent out.

Thanks for signing up to receive the sequence of flight for the Fort Lauderdale Air Show. Flight performances will begin on Saturday and Sunday at 11:30am. The sequence of flight performances is as follows:

Opening Ceremonies
Invocation
National Anthem

SOCOM Para-Commandos Flag Jump
Kirby Chambliss & Mike Goulian preview
Broward County Helicopter
Coast Guard SAR Demo
F-35 Lightning II Demo
Navy Legacy Flight
Red Bull Air Force
T-38 Talon
F-16 Vipers - World Famous Makos 482 FW
F-22 Raptor Demo
Air Force Heritage Flight
Mike Goulian
SOCOM Para-Commandos
U.S. Navy Blue Angels

The Sunday sequence is subject to change based upon military aircraft departures.

 

That's the tricky part, most people who have spare (stern) anchor, they are 99% undersized. That's b/c they usually meant for assisting and not used as mains. So, holding a raft of 4 large boats on two undersized anchors isn't the safest approach. I rather slightly compromise the view and have the main anchors do the job of holding the raft. The weather so far look just ok. There will be some breeze and we should expect a pop up T-storm. So for this reason, I rather play safe than sorry. Watching the show from the bridge or the bow isn't that bad either. Definitely bits dealing with dragging during a passing T-storm.

Here's another point on safety, this place is tight and will be packed. From my observation, the local crowd don't mid getting too close to your bow. In this case, I rather have all chain out (that's what I have for main anchor), rather than the line (for the stern anchor).

While ICW is affected by the current, if we go deeper in the bay, we won't feel anything. Just need to account for the wind.

Based on the forecast, you're looking at 2-3'ers on the nose, heading south. You can take a peak and see how it looks. If anything, Hilsboro inlet is only 5 miles south of you. ICW is much more enjoyable, except on a busy weekend. Going inside, you're looking at around 3hrs run. With express cruiser you need to open only couple bridges.